Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-02
A UNION DEPOT NEEDED.
where 10 should he
PLAN FOR A GRAND TUNNEL.

10 the Editor OF The EVENING STAR:
In your account OF the meeting OF the oficials Of
! the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Senate District
committee on the 3Oth ult, you report President
Roberts, OF the Pennsylvania Road, as saying
shat outside OF Government reservations there is
no tract OF ground large enough to accommodate q
depot for both the railroads unless they should go
way out 70 the city limits" II Mr.. ROBERTS had
studied the topography Of our city more thor
oughly he would not have made such a statement
Nature has provided q grand and abundantly
large site, not only for union passenger depot
for both roads, but also for freight depots engine
houses repair shops and even locomotive and car
factories In the very center OF the city, between
the Georgetown channel, where by means Of
docks direct transfers could be had for passengers
and freight with the New York and Norfolk
steamers and all the river boats, site but little
more than half O. mile from the Center Market and
one mile nom Georgetown, both OF which could
viii consult citx an e' so @ "t ran 70 see
that the natural location for q grand union depot
Is the Van Ness grounds and west OF that property
including what Is called 1.-THE Kidwell MeadOwS"
Instead OF the two roads OF the Baltimore and
OHIO Co being required TO tunnel Capitol Hill to
unite with the B. and p. road in the southeast
OF One Hundred, or at sth street and Maryland
avenue southwest, as proposed by the District
ADVANTAGE Of river fron tse baltimore AND Po
tomac should join the other two roads at the east
ern boundary OF the city by means OF tunnel or
a grand four-track union tunnel should be con-
structed under the city. with an underground
union passenger depot just east OF Mount Vernon
square at the intersection OF street and MasSa-
chusetts and New York avenues, and another near
the Arlington House, coming out at the foot of the
hill between 18th and Goth streets A union bridge
with approaches like those OF the great st. Louis
bridge should be constructed across the Potomac,
nigh enough for the tallest masted vessel TO go
UNDER The uns1ghtly Old hulk called Long Bridge
should be blown up and new bridge worthy OF
the age constructed, commencing at this end, on
Level with 14th street, and high enough In the
center Tor steamers and vessels to pass under,
thereby dispensing with the delay and expense OF
draw. Then let Alexandria wake up and procure the
construction OF grand concerted boulevard from
the southern terminus Of this bridge 10 that city
Inc earth taken from the tunnel on the west end
could be used for filling up to proper grade the
"kidwell Meadows" the other fats and the WASH
lngton monument grounds, and on the east end for
hlling the malartOuS flats at the southeast end OF
the city. Now, why cannot this cheap common
sense, and every way practical, and convenient
plan be adopted? 1t will not do to object to the
impracticabllity OF tunnels under cities. London,
with It's three circles OF underground railways set
tied that question twenty years ago. The tunnel
propose would be befOre-breakfaSt job compared
with the wonderful tunnels OF the great Metropoli
tan Railway OF London, whose cars convey thou
sands OF people every day beneath the sewers, gas
and water pipes OF that great city, bearing the
living beneath the graves OF the dead, even below
the tombS OF the kings and queens OF WestminS-
ter Abbey. Who that has stood at PaddingtOn,
where this road connects with the Great Western,
or at Kings Cross whrre 1t connects with the
Great Northern, and seen the rush OF passengers,
the rapid and frequent passing Of trains, through
stations liz up with gas, and provided
feet below tie surface, can doubt the practi-
cability Of underground railways in cities?
With regard TO the construction OF docks for
the accommodation OF river steamers, where they
could come alongside of railroad track and trans
fer their freight, secure from damage by ice or
reshet into the cars OF either road the cost would
be next TO nothing compared with the cost OF the
"Victorii ;" East India. ''West India london"
and ''St. Katherine's" docks OF London, the COM
bined area OF which Is J64 acres. The excavations
from these docks used to raise low streets to
a proper grade, as could be the excavations for
the docks and tunnels propose, for the raising OF
Pennsylvania avenue from the Capitol gate TO 18th
street TO a grade that would give decent cellars
and good drainage for those residing doing buSi
ness on that great thoroughfare. II the Baltimore
and Potomac prefers to act "the dog In the
manager" in this business, then let the privilege
be granted TO the Baltimore and Ohio, with
connections. 1t is easy TO see with this advantage
that the Baltimore and Ohio would get all OF the
river business, besides, with the underground sta
lions have named, the most OF the passenger
traffic. have not the slightest expectation that
anything grand and practical as have proposed
will be adopted In this generation. The same old
'.peacemeaF "pennywise, pound foolish" policy OF
the past will prevail But In the meantime would
like 10 hear the objections 10 this plan.
President Roberts proposes TO build on either
side OF the track, through the mall WALL which, II
permitted 10 construct, he promises ornament on
the top with vines and flowers. This reminds me
OF an unsightly pile OF earth, about 10 feet nigh,
side OF his depot, extending from street most
down TO the bridge. distance of about 400 feet.
This would indicate that Mr.. Roberts has already
constructed the slope for his wall the west side
OF his tracks IL would be interesting to know
under what law, or by whose permission, this en-
DdnhInent was placed there to dSligure the beau
iful ArmOry square park.
1t would seem as II this rich corporation had had
about enough free privileges In this city to the in
convenience and damage OF our citizens. First IL
had depot site given 10 IL after much lobbying,
site worth not less than 100000, and for which
John W. Garrett would have gladly paid 8, 100000.
The tns0lence and overbearing OF this corporation
is only equalled by It's graSping avarice 1t even
assumes greater power than the National Govern
ment, and organizes \ mob TO undo The work an
Army officer Is prosecuting. IL would seem 10 be
about time the gu StlonS were settled whether IL
and a few other corporations own this country, or
the people, for whose Use and benefit railroads
ana teegraphs should be constructed and operated.
j. III. G.
p. S-ThiS is not the 81 ii. c." that favOrs the
continuance OF the 9th street depot, whose views
were recently published in THE STAR, but another
j. H. G..
CHARGED WITH DIAMOND ROBBERY IN BsIU-
NORE--L-ist night the police received a dispatch
from Baltimore asking them TO lookout for and
rest a young man named Edward Stearns, who IS
charged in that city with stealing a diamond from
the firm OF ROthberg Co., diamond Dealers Officer
sutton was given descriptions OF the young man,
and about ii O'Clock he learned that person an
Swerng the description had been In OF the hotels
inquiring for Richmond train. The officer started
toward the Baltimore and Potomac depot. Just as
he was about 10 enter the building he met Mr.
Rothberg, who had StearDs by the collar and had
started out 10 look for an officer. The young man
made no resistance, but went with the officer TO
the police station, where the diamond was found
In MS possession. He claimed that he had been
given the diamond 10 sell TO gentleman in Balti-
more, but falling TO sell IT there he came over
here 10 make his commission ON 1t. He was held
for the Baltimore Officers and sgned his willing
ness 10 return without a requisit1On.
TIE CHORAL SOCIETY CoScKRT-The program an
nounced for The Choral Society concert at the Con-
gregational church Monday evening Is an attrac-
tive one. The society will render Fanning's "SOnp
OF the vikings" Jensen's "Feast or AdOnis" and
Sullvan's ION Shore and Sea-" Miss Earle the
soprano soloist, VIII give Beckers .'Spring Time
and Mr. Toedt, the tenor, Is down for Rubinstein'5
''Dream," Lists 'In Lebeslust" and BarnetJ's
"Harbor Bay" Mr.. Sherman will conduct
THE PAIAIS ROYAL "OPENING"-The Holiday
'Openlng" terminates tomorrow evening at @
O'Clock. Included In the ''Opening" souvenirs are
warm goods for men, women, and children, ON the
first nOor. Boys Clothing and Ladies' Wraps and
shoes on the second noor Blankets, Flannels, and
Upholstery Goods on the third floor. For souvenir
list see the advertisement.
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